Friday, January 5, 2018

Lou Spindell

Louis H. Spindell


Born:
December 16, 1908
New York, NY

Died:
December 3, 1997



Career
1927-28 CCNY (College)
1928-29 CCNY (College)
1929-30 CCNY (College)
1930-31 Cleveland Rosenblums (ABL)
1930-31 Toledo Red Men (ABL)
1931-32 Union City Reds (MBL)
1931-32 Philadelphia Moose (EBL)
1931-32 Brooklyn Americans (Independent)
1932-33 Yonkers Knights (BL) Head coach / player
1932-33 Jersey City Palace Diamonds (BL)
1932-33 Brooklyn Visitations (BL)
1932-33 Philadelphia Moose (EBL)
1932-33 Trenton Bengals (EBL)
1933-34 Trenton Moose (ABL)
1933-34 Dunmore (PSL)
1934-35 Newark/New Britain Mules (ABL)
1934-35 Nanticoke (PSL)
1935-36 Nanticoke-Tunkhannock-Freeland (PSL)
1936-37 New York Whirlwinds (Independent)
1937-38 New Haven / New York Jewels (ABL)
1937-38 Tunkhannock-Pittston (NYPA)
1938-39 New York Jewels (ABL)
1938-39 Teacher's Union - New York (Independent)
1939-40 New York Jewels (ABL)
1944-45 New York Westchesters (ABL)

A skilled player both offensively and defensively, Spindell enjoyed a rather long professional basketball career after starring at CCNY. He would also work as a physical education instructor for students for many years. He served in the U.S. Army during World War 2.

He wound up as a phys ed teacher at Straubenmuller Textile High School in New York City. In 1952, he was accused to being a member of the Communist party. When directly asked by the Senate subcommittee, he invoked his Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer. Spindell, along with 6 other teachers, was fired shortly thereafter.

He married Lora Hays (1910-2009) in 1948.

Source:
Jews In Sports
Indianapolis Star, September 11, 1952
Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, September 11, 1953

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/lou-spindell/


5 comments:

  1. Mr. Spindell was my first basketball coach, at the Highland School of Jamaica Estates, NY. He came to Highland in 1961, and left in 1962. He was immensely knowledgeable, and got a lot out of the team. He did want us all to learn how to shoot running one handers and two hand set shots. As the last guy on the bench, I made it my business to oblige. He was crusty and funny. The seniors called him Pops. Although hobbled by a bad knee, he could still play. We liked him, and I'm quite certain he liked us too. He returned to Highland in 1965, after I graduated. I don't know how long he stayed.

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  2. I played for Mr. Spindell at the Highland School in the 1962-1963 season. I loved Pops. He was at City the same years as my father. It was an honor to play under him
    I played colege ball at Adelphi, he came to many of my games. Just loved him

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  3. I thought it had to be you. How are you? I hope that you and yours are well in these crazy times. Pops was a really good guy. If he had been around my senior year, we would have been champions. We had a football guy from Miami of Ohio. We lost two league games that season, by one point each. We blew a 13 point lead in the 4th quarter of the deciding game. That would not have happened with Pops coaching.

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